New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Fisupnic Pur’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Fisupnic Pur’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; vigorous growth habit; medium green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; large bright purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FISUPNIC PUR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of NewGuinea Impatiens, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Fisupnic Pur’.

The new Impatiens is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Hillscheid, Germany. The objective of the breedingprogram is to create new freely-branching and vigorous New GuineaImpatiens cultivars with large and attractive flowers.

The new Impatiens originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor during the summer of 2002 in Hillscheid, Germany of aproprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code numberK02-0167-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code numberK02-0185-2, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newImpatiens was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a singleflowering plant with the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled environment in Moncarapacho, Portugal in March, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens by terminal cuttings in acontrolled environment in Moncarapacho, Portugal since June, 2003, hasshown that the unique features of this new Impatiens are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Fisupnic Pur has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Fisupnic Pur’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Fisupnic Pur’ as a new and distinct cultivarof Impatiens:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded plant        habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Vigorous growth habit.    -   4. Medium green-colored leaves.    -   5. Freely flowering habit.    -   6. Large bright purple-colored flowers.    -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in plant size as plants of thefemale parent selection were more compact.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants ofthe male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parentselection have orange-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the newImpatiens are shorter and flower earlier than plants of the male parentselection.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the Impatienscultivar Fisnics Purpink, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,753. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillscheid, Germany, plants of thenew Impatiens differed from plants of the cultivar Fisnics Purpink inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were taller than plants of the        cultivar Fisnics Purpink.    -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens were more freely branching than        plants of the cultivar Fisnics Purpink.    -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens had longer and narrower leaves        than plants of the cultivar Fisnics Purpink.    -   4. Plants of the new Impatiens had larger flowers than plants of        the cultivar Fisnics Purpink.    -   5. Plants of the new Impatiens and the cultivar Fisnics Purpink        differed in flower color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the Impatienscultivar Kilogia, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,935. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillscheid, Germany, plants of thenew Impatiens differed from plants of the cultivar Kilogia in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were larger and more vigorous        than plants of the cultivar Kilogia.    -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens were more freely branching than        plants of the cultivar Kilogia.    -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens had larger flowers than plants of        the cultivar Kilogia.    -   4. Plants of the new Impatiens and the cultivar Kilogia differed        in flower color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the Impatienscultivar Fisnics Purple, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,728. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillscheid, Germany, plants of thenew Impatiens differed from plants of the cultivar Fisnics Purple in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were more vigorous than plants of        the cultivar Fisnics Purple.    -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens had narrower leaves than plants        of the cultivar Fisnics Purple.    -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens and the cultivar Fisnics Purple        differed in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Impatiens, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Impatiens. The photograph comprises a side perspective view oftypical flowering plants of ‘Fisupnic Pur’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Hillscheid, Germany, in containersand under commercial practice during the spring in a glass-coveredgreenhouse with day temperatures ranging from 16° C. to 22° C. and nighttemperatures averaging about 16° C. Rooted young plants had been growingfor about ten to twelve weeks when the photograph and description weretaken. In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri cultivar Fisupnic Pur.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens            hawkeri identified as code number K02-0167-1, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens            hawkeri identified as code number K02-0185-2, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at            temperatures of 22° C. to 24° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 14 days at            temperatures of 20° C. to 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 18 days            at temperatures of 22° C. to 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 21 days            at temperatures of 20° C. to 22° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; dull to creamy white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading            growth habit; mounded plant habit. Freely branching habit            with about eleven lateral branches; pinching is typically            not required. Vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 15.7 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 27.8 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 10 cm to 14 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 7 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm to 3 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Between N170B and 173B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Typically in whorls; simple.        -   Length.—About 11.9 cm.        -   Width.—About 3.3 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical, narrow.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrulate with ciliation.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            leathery.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: Between 137D and            143A. Developing foliage, lower surface: 138B. Fully            expanded foliage, upper surface: 137C; venation, close to            144B, towards the base, 48B. Fully expanded foliage, lower            surface: 138B; venation, 53B.        -   Petiole length.—About 3.3 cm.        -   Petiole diameter.—About 4 mm.        -   Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—47A to 47B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rounded axillary            flowers. Freely flowering habit; usually about six to nine            open flowers and flower buds per lateral branch. Flowers            positioned above the foliage and typically face upright or            outward. Flowers last about one week under greenhouse            conditions. Petals self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.            Flowers not fragrant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse            conditions. In the garden, flowering from spring until fall            in Germany. Plants begin flowering about nine to ten weeks            after planting.        -   Flower size.—Length: About 8.2 cm. Diameter: About 7.9 cm.            Depth: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 1.8 cm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 67A.        -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five per flower in a single            whorl. Length, banner petal: About 3.8 cm. Length, lateral            petals: About 3.8 cm. Length, lower petals: About 4 cm.            Width, banner petal: About 5.7 cm. Width, lateral petals:            About 4.2 cm. Width, lower petals: About 4.5 cm to 4.6 cm.            Shape: Cordate. Apex: Emarginate; rounded. Base: Acute to            attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper            surface: N66A. When opening, lower surface: 67A. Fully            opened, upper surface: Between N66A and N74A. Fully opened,            lower surface: 67B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Three; one modified into an            elongated spur. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 5 mm.            Shape: Oval. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 147C. Spur length: About            5.6 cm. Spur diameter: At flower, about 3 mm; at apex, less            than 1 mm. Spur texture: Smooth, glabrous. Spur color: 53C            to 53D.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Angle: Upright to outward. Strength: Strong; flexible.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 180A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at            anthers; filaments free. Anther diameter: About 6 mm to            7 mm. Anther color: 11D; spot, 66C to 66D. Pollen amount:            Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 11D. Pistils: Quantity per            flower: One. Pistil length: About 6 mm. Stigma shape:            Star-shaped. Stigma color: 11D. Style color: 11D. Ovary            color: 143A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to New Guinea    Impatiens.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed    to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging    from about 5° C. to about 35° C.

1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Fisupnic Pur’ asillustrated and described.